Development plans will ‘shape future’

Two new planning blueprints which will shape the future of the Lancaster district have been officially adopted.

On Wednesday December 17 Lancaster City Council formally adopted the Development Management Development Plan Document (DPD) and Morecambe Area Action Plan DPD.

The documents have been developed over the past four years and will form key parts of the Local Plan for the Lancaster District 2011-2031.

The Development Management DPD will be used to assess future planning applications across the Lancaster district, and the Morecambe Area Action Plan DPD focuses on regeneration initiatives for the Central Morecambe area.

The documents don’t include details on a new district housing requirement, or allocate land for future development need.

A council spokesman said that it was unlikely that a draft Land Allocations document would be brought to full council before the end of 2015.

The published documents are available online at www.lancaster.gov.uk/planningpolicy, in local libraries and Morecambe and Lancaster Town Hall during normal opening hours.

Coun Janice Hanson said: “The council’s planning committee can now make decisions on planning applications using up-to-date planning policies for matters such as building design, flood risk, open spaces and affordable housing. The use of these up-to-date policies will help to deliver sustainable development in the district. The Area Action Plan will also direct and support regeneration proposals and investment in Morecambe.”

The documents can still be challenged via an application to the High Court, however, this is only in relation to the way that the documents have been prepared and not the content of the documents.